Empathy as a Potential Mechanism of Depression Contagion

Author: Adriana Papadakis

Field of Study: Psychology; Economics

Program Affiliation: Summer Scholars and Artists Program (SSAP), Binghamton Mood Disorders Institute

Faculty Mentors: Brandon E. Gibb

Easel: 31

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: Empathic distress is a maladaptive form of empathy marked by unease in response to others’ suffering. Prior research has linked excessive empathic distress to depression, but has relied primarily on self-report measures. This study addresses that limitation by combining self-report with psychophysiological assessments. A sample of 90 undergraduate students completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index to measure dispositional empathic distress, followed by a laboratory video task with rest, negative emotion induction, and recovery phases. Psychological reactivity was assessed via self-reported sadness, while physiological responses were measured using facial electromyography and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). It was hypothesized that higher empathic distress would predict greater negative facial affect, increased physiological reactivity, and heightened sadness during the negative emotion induction. Results indicated a nonlinear relationship between empathic distress and physiological reactivity, observed only among women. Specifically, both high and low levels of empathic distress, but not moderate levels, were associated with lower RSA during the negative emotion induction.